Sneak peak...

 On Christmas Eve I had the privilege of spending some time with some dear friends and their family for a quick photo shoot. I was honored they asked me to take their pictures!Thank you so much for braving the cold weather and adding laughter to my morning. Love you Miss Melney and your wonderful family too!

just a few more

Look who is one!

just the first few out of the camera... can not wait to show you my favorites!

Gratitude in Pictures Day 16

Rainy day art and afternoon with little one.

Gratitude in Pictures Day 15

 Homemade cards
* and just how much my little miss C is learning she wrote this all By herself!

Gratitude in Pictures Day 14

Wonder and Discovery

Gratitude in Pictures Day 13

Team work

Sneak peak for Palmer Family

I love my family! I am truly blessed with an amazing family and yes I mean my in-laws too! I truly wish I could see them more often them we do. So when my big brother was in town and asked if I would do some pictures I was excited for the chance to see them again. Crazy thing is it rained the day we were set to do pictures. As the pictures are for Christmas cards I decided to not show lots of them to you but just a quick peak at my Awesome oldest Brother, his talented sweet wife, My teenage nephew who my kids think is the coolest, and my sweet Niece who spunk makes me laugh.

Thanks for spending a rainy afternoon with us. Love you guys!

Gratitude in pictures Day 12

1/2 birthday yummy treats

Gratitude in pictures day 11

A link to the past, my dearly loved grandma's journals (oh how I miss her so much!)

Gratitude in pictures day 10

 "new" to us appliances
*Thank you so much for all the help installing them too!

Gratitude in pictures Day 9

Snuggles at the end of a great family day

Gratitude In Pictures Day 8

Beauty found on a morning walk...

Gratitude in pictures Day 7

 

unexpected reminders of loved ones gone

Gratitude in Pictures Day 6

The Privilege to Vote

Gratitude in pictures Day 5

reading

Gratitude in pictures Day 4

 daydreaming under the trees

Gratitude in pictures day 1-3

November 1-3

Daddy Time

Imagination...

Warm Fall Days

Book review: Tangled Ashes

Back cover: After invading Lamorlaye, France, Nazi officials don’t hesitate to take over the beautiful Meunier manor as their headquarters, hiring two young Frenchwomen, Marie and Elise, who clean and launder to help supplement their families’ meager incomes. But the girls begin to grow suspicious when medical equipment arrives, followed by an influx of pregnant women. As the Nazis’ plans for the manor become clear, the girls must decide where their loyalties truly lie.

More than fifty years later . . .
Architect Marshall Becker arrives in Lamorlaye to begin the massive renovation of a Renaissance-era castle. The project that was meant to provide an escape for Becker instead becomes a gripping glimpse into the human drama that unfolded during the Nazi occupation and seems to live on in midnight disturbances and bizarre acts of vandalism.

Becker explores the castle’s shadowy history as he seeks to cope with the demons from his own past. Only Jade, the feisty nanny of the owner’s children, is willing to stand up to him. But Becker soon discovers that every one of the château’s inhabitants seems to have something to hide and something to protect—and something worth fighting for.

What I thought of it : A story weaved through history of hope and love, of rebuilding through destruction, of forgiveness and second chances. This book weaves two stories one from the past and one current time together. Bring the reader to fall in love with so many strong characters and hoping for a happy ending for all of them. I was pulled in from the first few pages till the very end. While at times predictable I would still  recommend reading this book.

Gratitude

Deciding between a few new traditions this year maybe you can help me out.

#1 I love this idea I saw over at Balancing home of a Gratitude jar. Where each person writes down things they are thankful over the month and then they read them on Thanksgiving.

#2 Purchasing a journal and having every one write in it each day at least one thing they are thankful for. We could then keep the journal and add to it each year or even keep it out all year to write in after all a thankful heart is a happy heart :)

                                            (photo by Joe Bunting)

#3 A thankful tree like the one from Simply Vintagegirl

#4 I am doing for myself but the kids might like to do it as well I am going to do a picture a day.

What ways are you trying to remember to be thankful?

Pumpkin Carving time....

 Have I ever told you just how much i hate carving pumpkins? We do it every year and my kids think I love it. While at the dollar store Miss C  founds some felt pieces to make faces for your pumpkin and asked if we could try them this year instead. Mr C found some plastic pieces and wanted to give those a try.  I was so happy!!!
 Here is this years clean and easy pumpkin faces...

 on the other side of the spider lurks a scary monster

preview for The Johnson Family

It was such a treat to spend a very rain day at the pumpkin patch with some cousins. We had hoped to get some great group pictures, but it was a little difficult with so many silly people to look at. I was able to get a few pictures of the little one on there own that I thought I would share. Thank you so much for letting us join you on your family outing. Wish you could have been there too Jennifer, Holly and Cory.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween from Ash the Pokemon trainer and Mckenna an American girl gymnast.

A very special thank you to Miss Jessica for sewing the beautiful and very loved leotard. Also to Mr. Tim for loaning us the Ash hat and gloves, along with some other very cool accessories.  Hope you all have a very safe and happy Halloween.